Martinsburg gazette. (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1886-1887, 1887-01-07


It seemed as IL every girl in the whole
village had just found out what rare
and charming person / was. and how
pleasant 1t was late afternoons up where
/ lived, and how nice it was to run up
evenings to see me- And sometimes
Dennis would have to 60 home with
them then; and sometimes he wouldn't.
but Just went out the other way, and
never came home till they'd gone; and
somehow one thing was almost as un-
pleasant as the other, and couldn't say
why it worried mel only knew it did.
And i used to Etakc the boy and go of
by myself and cry For. of course,
sooner or later Dennis would marry some
one of those terrible girls; he couldn't
help himself; they wouldn't let him help
himself it would come about after
awhile as naturally as water runs down
hill.
And then there would be d stepmother
for my boy, and Heaven alone neWwhat
would become Of him. And what would
become Of me?
And by this gave out completely. i
should have to 60 away. should see
Dennis no more No more of that dear
voice and presence, aud CHEEKY way of
his. And all at once it came over me
in flash o horror and shame what was
the matter with me and then felt that,
happen what would, / really must go
away.
But couldn't go and leave the boy;
and there was. And grew pale and
could eat nothing, and was stiller and
stiiler every day. / could as soon have
fallSpd Heir W no have Smilnd
But one day Ind the little fellow
asleep in his morning nap, which he had
not quite outgrown, although it was get
ting to be short and fitful; and, thinking
that Dennis was there to see, or knowing
he was, and thinking nothing, went
out by myself, down the tie d by the
railroad cut; for there was an apple tree
there where I gathered the wind falls,
and liked, too, to sit On the bank and
see the train dash by in the cut. had
my apron full Of apples, and, as / came
back, ] stood lettering "a moment or so
on the steep bank, hearing agtrain com
ing, and liking all The rush and roar and
myself, as If it told of a way to some>
wher,, sore distant region where my
trouble might be forgotten; and all at
preaching train caught my ear, q glad,
gay shouting and crying. turned and
looked to right and left. alittle confused,
for it was the child's voice And,
turning back suddenly, / saw him; and
there, at the foot of the bank,
in the very center Of the railway track.
stood the little fellow, who had
crept from his bed and ran after me, and
been begu led down the slope by some
blossoms that he saw there--there, in the
centre Of the track he stood, waving his
little hands and shouting to tho coming
train. There was not half minute, it
seemed, but in less time I was down
there, and was just grasping the child
when my foot slipped, and fell with
him in my arms, and the thunder was in
my ears and the hot breath in my face,
and knew that was the end.
No; it was only the beginning Of tho
end. When I knew anything more, /
was lying on the bank in Dennis's arms,
for he had come bounding after the boy.
and had snatched us both out Of danger
as the engine, like wild dragon, whizzed
and roared and Numbered by, and he was
holding me as The would never let me
go.
And he never haslet me 60. "oh he
cried, 81 found out in that second what
life would be to me without you, dear,
something Iconldn't beara day Ands.I
only chung to him. too ashamed TO let
him see my face, too tired and weak to
lift it. And SO ii is that am the second
wife, and the boys mother. And SUPP
pose everybody was surprised; but no.
qody, as told you, was half as mach